Jude Bellingham Brilliance Papers Over Cracks In England's Euro 2024 Case

England's quest to end 58 years of hurt at Euro 2024 remains alive thanks to one moment of Jude Bellingham brilliance, but the Three Lions failed to look like future European champions in sneaking past Slovakia 2-1. Another embarrassing exit for English football at a major tournament was looming in Gelsenkirchen until Bellingham's acrobatic effort in the 95th minute broke Slovak hearts. A minute into extra-time, Harry Kane then completed the comeback to set up a meeting with Switzerland on Saturday in the quarter-finals.

However, any excitement among the England fan base at ending up on the perceived weaker side of the draw was drained away by another turgid performance from Gareth Southgate's men.

England arrived in Germany hyped as pre-tournament favourites thanks to a squad stacked with attacking talent.

Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona insisted on the eve of the game that Southgate is working with "the best squad at the Euros".

But a team featuring the Bundesliga's top scorer Kane, the Premier League's player of the year Phil Foden and a recently crowned Champions League winner in Bellingham has been laboured in possession and easy to defend against.

Until Bellingham's late intervention, England had scored just two goals in four games, while the deficiencies of a makeshift back line were also exploited by Slovakia early on.

The side ranked 45th in the world had already spurned two big chances before Ivan Schranz strolled through the heart of the England defence to slot home his third goal of the tournament on 25 minutes.

England fans dominated all but a small section of the 50,000 capacity AufSchalke Arena and made their disillusionment heard as boos greeted the half-time whistle.

Southgate's men marginally improved